Envelop-seal.



' "'f.. A. SPEER.

ENVBLOP SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6,1910.

973,987. l Patented occ..25,1910;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. SPEER, OF STURGIS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

ENvELor-SEAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. SPEER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sturgis, in the county of Meade and State of South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Envelop- Seals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seals for envelops or similar receptacles, the object being to provide novel and effective means operable to engage the tongue of the sealing flap so as to hold the tongue in its closed-position and to prevent opening of the envelop without detection.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views-Figure 1 is a plan view of the envelop showing elements of my improved seal applied to the end flaps. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the envelop showing the sealing flap of the same in its closed posit-ion. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view ot the envelop showing the bottom and sealing flops in partly open positions.

Upon reference to the drawing, it will be described that the envelop is formed to provide a front wall 1, end flaps 2 and 3, a bottom flap 4:, and a top or sealing lap This sealing flap is formed to provide a locking tongue 6 having substantially pointed end portions 7 which are spaced from the portions or edges 8 of the said iap 5 to form notches 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The end flap 3 is formed to provide passages 10 and 11 and the flap 2 is formed to provide a passage 12.

My improved seal which is used in connection with the envelop of the herein described construction consists of a locking member 13 consisting of a rectangular plate which is stamped upon its side edges to form anchoring spurs 14C which are stamped to engage the flap 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The said locking member is formed to provide passages 141 and 15 the former being arranged in line with the passage 12 in the flap 2 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A button or equivalent retainer 16 is carried by the end flap 3. This button is provided with an eye portion 17 which extends Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 6, 1910.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Serial No. 553,731.

through the passage 10, as shown. The eye of the button has secured thereto one end of a iiexible connection 1S which is threaded through the passages 19 of the bottom flap 4: and through the passages 12, 141, 15 and l1,

as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, so that the free terminal of the said connection is disposed at one end of the envelop and in a position to be conveniently manipulated.

It may be mentioned that the notches 9 of the sealing flap 5 are disposed in line with the passages 10 and 12 of. the end flaps 2 and 3 when the said sealing iiap is in its closed position. The locking member 13 is formed to provide a series of locking spurs 2O which are operable to engage the said iiexible connection to hold the same against movement in one direction.

In use of the envelop herein described and shown, the sealing flap is folded to lie between the endl flaps and the bottom flap so as to cause the notches 9 to aline with the passages 12 and 10 and also with the passages 19. T he cord is then drawn tight so as to cause the portions of the connection which are disposed between the end flaps and the bottom flap et to be drawn into the notches 9 of the said sealing Hap. Any desired tension of the flexible connection can be conveniently obtained but movement to release the connection from the sealing flap will be elect-ively prevented by the locking spurs 2O engaging the cord.

I claim:

1. An envelop having a flexible connection secured at one of its terminals to one of the end flaps and threaded through the other end iiap and through the bottom i'lap, a sealing Hap having a tongue constructed to engage the portions of the said flexible element which is disposed between the said end iaps and the said bottom flap, and a locking member operable to engage the flexible connection to hold thesame in its adjusted position and against movement in one direction.

2. An envelop having an eye member secured to one of its end flaps, a movable flexible element threaded through the end flaps and through the bottom flap and having a :tree manipulating terminal disposed at one end of the envelop, the sealing flap of' the said envelop having :L tongue oonsti'uoted to be engaged by portions of the said iexible element, und :i looking member operable to engage the Seid flexible connection and to hold the saine in its adjusted position and againstniovelnent in one direction.

i In testimony Whereot1 I affix my signature s 1n presence of two Witnesses.

EDH/ARD A; bPEER.

Titnesses PAULINE BRUCE, ELLA' MCADAMS. 

